Independence of the brittle–ductile transition from the rubber particle size for impact‐modified poly(vinyl chloride)

A series of acrylic impact modifiers (AIMs) with different particle sizes ranging from 55.2 to 927.0 nm were synthesized by seeded emulsion polymerization, and the effect of the particle size on the brittle–ductile transition of impact‐modified poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) was investigated. For each AIM, a series of PVC/AIM blends with compositions of 6, 8, 10, 12, and 15 phr AIM in 100 phr PVC were prepared, and the Izod impact strengths of these blends were tested at 23 °C. For AIMs with particle sizes of 55.2, 59.8, 125.2, 243.2, and 341.1 nm, the blends fractured in the brittle mode when the concentration of AIM was lower than 10 phr, whereas the blends showed ductile fracture when the AIM concentration reached 10 phr. It was concluded that the brittle–ductile transition of the PVC/AIM blends was independent of the particle size in the range of 55.2–341.1 nm. When the particle size was greater than 341.1 nm, however, the brittle–ductile transition shifted to a higher AIM concentration with an increase in the particle size. Furthermore, the critical interparticle distance was found not to be the criterion of the brittle–ductile transition for the PVC/AIM blends. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 696–702, 2006     

Reinforcement effect of MAA on nano‐CaCo3‐filled EPDM vulcanizates and possible mechanism

Methacrylic acid (MAA) was used as in situ surface modifier to improve the interface interaction between nano‐CaCO₃ particle and ethylene–propylene–diene monomer (EPDM) matrix, and hence the mechanical properties of nano‐CaCO₃‐filled EPDM vulcanizates. The results showed that the incorporation of MAA improved the filler–matrix interaction, which was proved by Fourier transformation infrared spectrometer (FTIR), Kraus equation, crosslink density determination, and scanning electron microscope (SEM). The formation of carboxylate and the participation of MAA in the crosslinking of EPDM indicated the strong filler–matrix interaction from the aspect of chemical reaction. The results of Kraus equation showed that the presence of MAA enhanced the reinforcement extent of nano‐CaCO₃ on EPDM vulcanizates. Crosslink density determination proved the formation of the ionic crosslinks in EPDM vulcanizates with the existence of MAA. The filler particles on tensile fracture were embedded in the matrix and could not be observed obviously, indicating that a strong interfacial interaction between the filler and the matrix had been achieved with the incorporation of MAA. Meanwhile, the presence of MAA remarkably increased the modulus and tensile strength of the vulcanizates, without negative effect on the high elongation at break. Furthermore, the ionic bond was thought to be formed only on filler surface because of the absolute deficiency of MAA, which resulted in the possible structure where filler particles were considered as crosslink points. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 1226–1236, 2006     

Slow crack growth in blends of HDPE and model copolymers

The resistance to slow crack growth (SCG) was measured in binary blends of high density polyethylene (HDPE) and 5–10% concentrations of model ethylene-butene random copolymers by measuring the time to failure (t_f) under a constant stress intensity. An increase of t_f with the addition of the copolymer if the copolymer could crystallize and the increase was greater the higher branch density. The copolymer with 117 branches/1000C could not crystallize and therefore its blend had a t_f that was less than that of the HDPE. The fracture energies of the blends as determined by their resistance to SCG were compared with the energy by rapid fracture, J_c, as previously measured by Rhee and Crist. It is concluded that SCG is more sensitive to variations in the microstructure than is rapid fracture and that the differences in SCG behavior can be qualitatively explained in terms of the differences in microstructure of the blends. ©1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Asymmetric synthesis XXVII: Asymmetric catalytic trimethylsilylcyanation of aldehydes by novel Ti-chiral Schiff base complexes

Enantioselective catalytic trimethylsilylcyanations of aldehydes with 48% to 92% e.e. have been studied using the novel Ti-chiral Schiff base complexes. We have found that the catalyst led to high enantoselectivity when the molar ratio of the Schiff base 1 to Ti(O-i-Pr)₄ was 2:1.     

Amperometric detection of catecholamines with liquid chromatography at a novelly constructed prussian blue chemically modified electrode

A novel Prussian blue chemically modified electrode (CME) was constructed and characterized for liquid chromatography electrochemical detection (LCEC) of catecholamines. Both anodic and cathodic peaks could be obtained by monitoring at constant applied potential at anodic and slightly cathodic potential ranges (0.3-0.7 and -0.2-0.1 V vs. SCE), respectively. When arranged in a series configuration, using the modified electrodes as generating and collecting detectors, extremely high effective collection efficiencies of 0.91 (for norepinephrine) and 0.58 (for dihydroxyphenylacetic acid) were achieved in dual-electrode LCEC for catecholamines; and a linear response range over 3 orders of magnitude and a detection limit of 10 pg were obtained with a downstream CME as the indicating detector.     

Sequential transition States and the valley-ridge inflection point in the formation of a semibullvalene

[structure: see text] Two sequential transition states are calculated at the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) level for the deazetization of 3b. The intrinsic reaction coordinate for loss of nitrogen passes through a transition state and then a valley-ridge inflection point and ultimately leads to the transition state for the Cope rearrangement of semibullvalene 4b. The energetic and geometrical consequences are discussed.     

贮氢材料电极循环寿命的定量预测定时放电半衰期法的应用

贮氢材料电极循环寿命的定量预测定时放电半衰期法的应用韩剑文，袁满雪，周作祥，赖城明（南开大学化学系天津３０００７１）关键词：贮氢电极，循环寿命，半衰期。前文￣［１］讨论了应用定终点电位放电半衰期法来预测贮氢材料电极循环寿命的问题。本文讨论如何采用定时...     

高效液相色谱检测Zn（Ⅱ）、Cd（Ⅱ）、Co（Ⅱ）、Pb（Ⅱ）、Ni（Ⅱ）、Cu（Ⅱ）、Hg（Ⅱ）

用双-(2-羟乙基)二硫代甲酸铵(HEDC)在反相液相色谱中作检测某些金属离子的衍生化试剂，HEDC的金属螯合物微溶于水，可直接水样注射于C18柱中进行检测，范围为0．006～10mg／L相对偏差1％～2％，检测波长254nm，金属汞的整合物在HPLC分析前进行浓缩富集检测限可低至0．06～25μg／L，相对偏差小于2％。     

Direct test of the Gaussian-chain model for treating residual charge-charge interactions in the unfolded state of proteins

The Gaussian-chain model for treating residual charge-charge interactions was critically tested by recent experimental pK(a) results for individual Asp, Glu, and His residues in the unfolded drkN SH3 domain. Predicted pK(a)'s were in good agreement with experiment. The clustering of Asp and Glu residues along the sequence was suggested to limit pK(a) shifts and contribute to the folding stability by destabilizing the unfolded state.